Tar Heels report: Strategy and personnel

May 2, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Strategy and personnel · Inside slant · Notes, quotes

2008 OUTLOOK: North Carolina welcomes back 18 starters on the offensive and defensive units of a team that was only 4-8 last season but had six losses by a touchdown or less. With defending Coastal Division favorite Virginia Tech facing some rebuilding and Miami and Georgia Tech unknown quantities, the Tar Heels could make a serious run for a berth in the ACC championship game. The Heels get Virginia Tech, Boston College, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State at home and don't play Atlantic Division favorites Clemson, Florida State or Wake Forest in the regular season.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
The Heels have one of the league's top receivers in junior Hakeem Nicks, who, barring injury, will finish the year as the school's all-time leading pass catcher, and breakaway threats in WRs Brooks Foster and Brandon Tate. T.J. Yates returns as the starting quarterback, and TB Greg Little looks to be a big boost in the running game since his move from wide receiver. Three starters return up front, including junior LT Kyle Jolly, who is coming off a foot injury, and senior RT Garrett Reynolds, an All-ACC candidate. TE/H-back Zack Pianalto had eight starts as a freshman last year.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
The defense faces big losses with the departures of DT Kentwan Balmer and DE Hilee Taylor, but Marvin Austin has a huge upside after playing 12 games (three starts) as a true freshman in 2007. Austin and junior DT Aleric Mullins give the Heels two solid slots in the front four. Junior DE E.J. Wilson started all 12 games. The return of senior Chase Rice, who missed all but a handful of plays in 2007, from a broken foot and sophomores Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter solidify the linebacking corps. All four starters -- CBs Kendric Burney and Charles Brown, S Deunta Williams and S Trimaine Goddard -- are back in the secondary.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Dependable PK Connor Barth is gone, but senior P Terrance Brown returns. The junior college transfer averaged better than 41 yards an attempt in 2007 after transferring from Fresno City College. Redshirt freshman Jay Wooten looks to take over for Barth. Tate will be back as the primary punt (9.4 average) and kickoff (28.0) returner.

ROSTER REPORT

--Senior S Trimaine Goddard, recovering from a wrist injury, looks to face a challenge from sophomore DaNorris Searcy for a starting job in the secondary in the fall.

--Former RBs Johnny White, who started eight games on offense as a redshirt freshman last year, and Richie Rich, a junior, will continuing competing for backup roles at cornerback when fall camp opens.